Musical instrument attachment



Feb. 28, 1939. E. DIBERT 2,148,540

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 27, 1937 INVENTOR.

WWQ MrMJ ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an attachment for mu cal instruments such as trumpets, cornets, and others of the same general character.

An object of the invention is to provide a single attachment constructed of rigid material, which will perform the several functions of (1) catching and holding'the saliva and condensation that may drip from the valves of the instrument; (2) protecting the finish of the instrument at points of excessive wear; and (3) enhancing the appearance of the musical instrument generally.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated, which is durable though inexpensive, and which will never present a soiled or worn appearance.

These and other objects are obtained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a musical instrument, showing an attachment of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view showing the construction of the device of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, part being broken away, showing a drip cup which forms part of the invention.

Musicians and other persons familiar with instruments of the general character disclosed in the accompanying drawing, frequently experience unpleasant difficulties resulting from the escape of condensation and saliva or a mixture of the two from the lower ends of the instrument valves. The fluid from the valves generally contains oil and acids resulting from contact with the working parts of the valves and when this mixture drips on to the musicians clothing it leaves stains that are removed only with great difficulty, thereby damaging the clothing permanently within a short period of time. The device of the present invention effectively catches the fluid which drips from the valves while at the same time performing the additional functions mentioned in the preceding statement of objects of the invention. Insofar as is now known, there has never been devised an attachment so constructed as to perform the mechanical functions of catching the valve discharge fluids and protecting the areas of the instrument which receive excessive wear, while at the same time beautifying the instrument as a whole. It is accordingly considered a meritorious improvement to embody in one single structure the means for performing the several functions mentioned.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing:

4 indicates generally a comet, trumpet, or the like, having a series of valves that operate within the valve cylinders 5, the valves being controlled by the keys or plungers 6. As is well known, the valve cylinders are capped at their lower ends as indicated at l, but the caps necessarily are perforated and therefore capable of releasing the fluid that accumulates therein.

The attachment disclosed in Fig. 2 is adapted to house the set of valve cylinders both at their lower ends and adjacent to the upper portions thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. The attachment comprises a substantially planar body portion 8 which is constructed of rigid material, such as a suitable metal that will withstand wear and abuse. Near the top of the body portion, the vertical side edges 9 are developed to form a series of hinge eyes ID, which are adapted to cooperate with the hinge eyes l2 and hinge pins 13 of the Wings or leaves l4 and 15. From the disclosure of Fig. 2, it Will be seen that each of the hinged wings or leaves has a free forward edge I 6, and a hinged portion which is curved as at ll, on a radius slightly in excess of the radius of the valve cylinder. The curves at ll are substantially semi-circular, and are adapted to embrace the endmost valve cylinders of the set. The manner in which the hinged wings or leaves embrace the valves is clearly disclosed in Fig. 1.

Any suit-able form of latch may be employed for fastening the wings or leaves in the position shown in Fig. l. The form of latch means disclosed herein, by way of example, comprises a finger l8 hinged upon the leaf or wing 15 at the location IS. The member [8 has an angular bend at 20. To latch the wings together, it is necessary merely to insert the latch-piece l8 through the elongated slot 2| of wing or leaf I4, and then move the latch-piece about its hinge to the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the wings may be swung rearwardly and out of the way, for application or displacement of the attachment.

The lower end of the body portion 8 is developed into a continuous band 22 which is rigid and so proportioned as to embrace the lower ends of the valve cylinders. This band may be integral with the body portion, if desired, and may be said to have an oblong configuration, with rounded ends 23 of substantially the same curvature as that of the wings or leaves l4 and 15. The continuous band 22 forms a protective cover for the lower ends of the valve cylinders, and furnishes, moreover, a support for the drip cup indicated at 24. The drip cup is provided with an imperforate bottom 25, and an upstanding continuous wall 28 curved to correspond with the curvature of the band, so that the cup may be slipped over the band from beneath. The cup may be held in place by reason of its frictional engagement with the band, or, if desired, a more complex means may be employed for the purpose. The drip cup effectively intercepts and retains the oily, acidic fluid that drips from the valve cylinders, and by sliding the cup downwardly off the band 22, the contents may be disposed of from time to time.

As indicated by the character 21, the attachment may be lined with leather, felt, or other soft material capable of protecting the valves'of the instrument against injury or defacement due to metallic contact with the attachment. By preference, the lining is applied to the inner faces of the hinged wings or leaves, as well as to all portions of the body 8 and band 22 that might contact the highly polished surfaces of the instrument. The exterior surfaces of, the attachment, including the drip cup, may be embellished or decorated to suit the taste of the user.

It should be noted that there is a space between the lower edges 28 of the wings, and the upper edge 29 of band 22, for accommodating the smaller convolutions or end tubes of the instrument. Such tubes are indicated by the characters 30.

From the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that I have provided an attachment for musical instruments, which will perform a number of functions effectively and without the aid of lacings or other troublesome expedients, the device moreover being of such character as to lend beauty to the instrument by imparting thereto a streamline or modernistic effect. The attachment proper need not be removed from the instrument, and it may be cleaned and polished with much less difiiculty than is encountered in cleaning and polishing the valve cylinders of an instrument not furnished with the attachment of the invention. As the entire device is of rigid construction, it affords protection against injury to the vital and delicate parts of the musical instrument, in addition to preventing wearing away of the precious metal plating by the action of the musicians fingers while playing the instrument.

As instruments of the general character disclosed herein will sometimes vary as to their details of construction, it may be necessary in some cases to modify the device of the invention in order to secure proper application thereof to different instruments. It is accordingly to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for a wind instrument having tube convolutions and valve cylinders disposed transversely thereof; comprising in combination, a body portion for disposition along the backs of the valve cylinders, and a protective wing hinged to the body portion for movement to a position along the forward areas of the valve cylinders, a depending support on the body portion for disposition adjacent to the lower ends of the valve cylinders, a drip cup mounted upon said support and beneath the valve cylinders, for intercepting fluid discharged from said cylinders, and means for latching the wing in substantial parallelism with the body portion of the attachment.

2. An attachment for a wind instrument having tube convolutions and a set of valve cylinders disposed transversely thereof, and comprising a rigid protective housing surrounding the valve cylinders, and a drip cup supported by the housing beneath said cylinders.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a stiff body sheet having an upper portion including vertically arranged hinge eyes, and a lower band portion formed into an oblong loop, a wing supported hingedly upon the hinge eyes of the stiff body sheet, for movement to and from a position of spaced parallelism with the body portion, and a drip cup supported by the oblong loop at the lower portion of the body sheet.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a stiff body sheet having an upper portion including vertically arranged hinge eyes, and a lower band portion formed into an oblong loop, a wing supported hingedly upon the hinge eyes of the stiff body sheet, for movement to and from aposition of spaced parallelism with the body portion, said wing being elevated relative-to and spaced from the loop to provide a space for the reception of end tubes of a wind instrument, and a drip cup supported by the oblong loop at the lower portion of the ,body sheet.

5. An attachment for a wind instrument having tube convolutions and a set of vertical valve cylinders disposed. transversely thereof, said attachment comprising a stiff body sheet having an upper portion adapted to rest vertically aaginst the upper back portions of the valve cylinders, and a lower portion of band formation adapted to encircle the lower ends of the valve cylinders, the band formation being rigidly related to the body sheet, a drip cup having an imperforate bottom and a side wall shaped to encircle and frictionally engage the band formation on the body sheet, and wing means hinged to the upper portion of the stiff body sheet, for movement to a position of flatwise abutment with the upper front portions of the valve cylinders, for holding the attachment in place upon the instrument.

6. An attachment for a musical wind instrument having tube convolutions and a set of upright apertured valve cylinders disposed transversely thereof, said attachment comprising a rigid protective shield extending along corresponding sides of all of the valves and including portions covering the valves where exposed to contact with the musicians hand while the instrument is being played, said shield including a rigid lower end portion adjacent to the lower ends of the cylinders, a drip cup, and means at the rigid lower end portion of the shield for supporting the drip cup in position to receive drippings from the valve cylinder apertures, and means securing the rigid protective shield to the instrument in fixed inflexible relationship thereto.

'7. An attachment for a musical wind instrument having tube convolutions and a set of apertured valve cylinders disposed transversely thereof in position to be contacted by the musicians hand, said attachment comprising a rigid protective housing covering the areas of the valve cylinders which are normally exposed to contact of the hand, means for mounting the rigid housing upon the instrument in rigid relationship thereto, and a drip cup supported upon the rigid housing and located beneath the valve cylinders to receive drippings from the valve cylinder apertures.

ENFIELD DIBERT. 

